COLORADO RARE BIRD REPORT for THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020
Patrick O'Driscoll
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2020
Email: RBA AT cobirds.org
Compiler: Patrick O’Driscoll, patodrisk AT gmail.com
Phone: 303-885-6955
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The Colorado Rare Bird report is an informational service.
Because of statewide coronavirus “Safer at Home” orders, this report is meant to keep homebound readers abreast of rare bird sightings across the state during spring migration. It does NOT endorse and is NOT meant to encourage the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area.
We urge readers to respect state and local restrictions on non-critical travel.
As potentially asymptomatic outside visitors, unethical urban/suburban “chase” birders who travel to remote locales risk exposing isolated Colorado populations to the virus.
To ensure the safety of yourself and others while birding, please practice physical distancing, wear face masks and follow all other Covid-19 precautions.
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Birders have been helpful by reporting updates to COBirds. Thanks!
CAPITAL LETTERS denote very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee at the CFO website.
(*) indicates new information on a species.
For more information on birds seen today, go to cobirds.org and scroll to the bottom for “Recent eBird Sightings.”
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Spring migration notes:
Either this has been an exceptional migration, or “stay local” has its benefits, as recent sightings attest. Certain birds we would all be proud to find or see seem to be everywhere. In an attempt to limit an already-overlong daily report, these recently listed species are being removed:
White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Palm Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Parula, and Summer Tanager.
Please continue, however, to report these birds on COBIRDS.
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Rare birds and some out-of-place or out-of-season birds include:
Snow Goose (Hinsdale)
Trumpeter Swan (Las Animas)
Long-tailed Duck (*Arapahoe)
MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Fremont)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Park, Pueblo)
Whimbrel (Delta)
Stilt Sandpiper (*Weld)
Short-billed Dowitcher (Bent, Weld)
Red-necked Phalarope (Broomfield, *Denver, *Dolores)
Red Phalarope (Mesa)
Least Tern (Mesa)
Caspian Tern (Weld)
Common Tern (Larimer, Montezuma, Washington)
Arctic Tern (Jackson)
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Arapahoe, Denver)
Neotropic Cormorant (Bent)
Glossy Ibis (Boulder, *Larimer)
BLACK VULTURE (Fremont)
Mississippi Kite (*Baca, Arapahoe, *El Paso)
Broad-winged Hawk (*Jefferson)
Red-headed Woodpecker (*Huerfano)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Las Animas, Otero)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Jefferson, Las Animas, Otero, Weld)
Gray Vireo (Teller)
Philadelphia Vireo (Cheyenne)
Winter Wren (Larimer)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (Bent, Prowers)
Varied Thrush (Arapahoe)
Bohemian Waxwing (Boulder)
Common Redpoll (Gunnison)
Field Sparrow (Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer)
Dark-eyed Junco (*Baca)
Canyon Towhee (Routt, Teller)
Baltimore Oriole (Boulder, *El Paso, Larimer, Otero)
Worm-eating Warbler (Kiowa)
Golden-winged Warbler (Boulder, *Jefferson, *El Paso)
Blue-winged Warbler (*Arapahoe, Baca, *El Paso, Fremont, Otero)
Prothonotary Warbler (*Jefferson, Larimer)
LUCY’S WARBLER (*Mesa, San Miguel)
Mourning Warbler (Bent, Prowers)
Kentucky Warbler (Chaffee, Prowers)
Hooded Warbler (Chaffee, Jefferson, Kiowa, Larimer, *Pueblo, *Saguache)
Cape May Warbler (Bent, Fremont, Prowers)
Blackburnian Warbler (*Denver)
Pine Warbler (*Jefferson, Prowers)
Yellow-throated Warbler (Broomfield, Jefferson, *Pueblo)
Magnolia Warbler (*Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa)
Bay-breasted Warbler (Larimer, Pueblo)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Jefferson, Kiowa, Pueblo)
Grace’s Warbler (*Las Animas, Ouray)
Black-throated Gray Warbler (*Jefferson, Pitkin)
Black-throated Green Warbler (Jefferson)
Scarlet Tanager (Boulder, *Fremont, Rio Grande)
Northern Cardinal (Arapahoe, Boulder)
Blue Grosbeak (*Larimer)
Painted Bunting (Baca, Otero)
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ADAMS COUNTY:
—On May 11 a Field Sparrow was reported at Barr Lake by Daniel Maynard.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
—On May 13 a Blue-winged Warbler was reported at Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park by Dave Hill and Cynthia Madsen.
—On May 13 the continuing, very late Long-tailed Duck was reported by Quincy Reservoir. First reported by G Stacks.
—On May 12 a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was reported at Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park. First reported May 9 by Rajkumar Manikandan.
—On May 10 a Northern Cardinal was heard and reported at Platte River Park-Northern Wildlife Area by Brian Johnson.
—On May 10 a Varied Thrush was reported “at feeders for last 3 days” at a private residence in Greenwood Village by Ann Coe. See eBird report.
—On May 8 a Mississippi Kite was seen above Littleton Cemetery by David Suddjian.
BACA COUNTY:
—On May 11 four Mississippi Kites were reported in Cottonwood Canyon by Bez Bezuidenhout.
—On May 10 a female Painted Bunting was re-found below Two Buttes Reservoir dam. Two were first reported May 8 by Joey Kellner.
—On May 10 a Dark-eyed Junco was reported at Two Buttes SWA (below dam) by Bez Bezuidenhout.
—On May 8 a Blue-winged Warbler and a Gray-cheeked Thrush also were reported below Two Buttes Reservoir dam by Joey Kellner.
BENT COUNTY:
—On May 10 a Neotropic Cormorant was reported at Lake Hasty below John Martin Reservoir Dam by Duane Nelson, who first found the bird on March 31.
—On May 10 two Short-billed Dowitchers were reported with a small flock of Long-billed Dowitchers at John Martin Reservoir by John Haycroft and Donna Stumpp.
—On May 10 a Gray-cheeked Thrush was re-found at Melody Tempel Grove. It is one of two first reported May 6 by the Phenegers.
—On May 9 a Cape May Warbler was re-found at Melody Tempel Grove by numerous birders. First reported May 6 by Brandon Percival.
—On May 8 a Mourning Warbler was reported at Melody Tempel Grove by Glenn Walbek.
BOULDER COUNTY:
—On May 13 a Magnolia Warbler was reported at Sawhill Ponds. First reported May 12 by several birders. A Magnolia Warbler also was reported May 12 at Eldorado Canyon SP by John Bryan.
—On May 13 a Baltimore Oriole was reported on Bear Creek Path, East Boulder by Deborah Bowman. Another was reported May 9 at a private residence on Apple Valley Road.
—On May 12 a Golden-winged Warbler was reported at Walden Ponds by Cara Stiles.
—On May 12 a Northern Cardinal was reported along Goat Trail, Boulder by Thomas Heinrich.
—On May 12 a male Scarlet Tanager was reported “coming to a private residence” in the Marshall Mesa area of Boulder County (homeowner declines to reveal location).
—On May 11 a Glossy Ibis was reported at Pella Crossing Open Space by Richard Klassen.
—On May 9 a small flock of Bohemian Waxwings was reported at Thorne Nature Experience, Boulder by Duwayne Worthington and Andy Angstrom. A rare species along the Front Range, the flock flew off but should be looked for in the area.
—On May 9 a Magnolia Warbler was reported at Garden Acres Park, Longmont by Bryan Guarente.
—On May 9 a continuing Northern Cardinal was reported at the Linden Avenue/ 21st Street stakeout location in Boulder.
—On May 8 a Field Sparrow was reported at Waneka Lake/Greenlee Preserve, Lafayette by Art Reisman.
BROOMFIELD COUNTY:
—On May 9, 25 Red-necked Phalaropes were seen in the NE 3 sections of Broomfield E of 1-25 by Chipper Phillips.
CHAFFEE COUNTY:
—On May 12 a Kentucky Warbler was reported at Sands Lake SWA. First reported May 8 by Jeff Guy.
—On May 11 a Hooded Warbler was re-found on the Arkansas River north and west of Sands Lake by Sally Waterhouse and Cole Sites. First reported May 5 at Sands Lake SWA by Tyler Wilson.
CHEYENNE COUNTY:
—On May 8 a Philadelphia Vireo was reported at Mitchek Ranch (private; bird from road) by Donna Stump. Location is site of famed Golden-crowned Warbler sighting in 2018.
DELTA COUNTY:
—On May 7 a Whimbrel was reported at Fruit Growers Reservoir, Orchard City by Martha Springer.
DENVER COUNTY:
—On May 13 a Blackburnian Warbler was reported on Sanderson Gulch Trail near Ruby Hill Park by Jacqui Geiselman and by Steve Rash.
—On May 13, 10 Red-necked Phalaropes were reported at Westerly Wetlands. Forty birds first reported May 12 by Julia Auckland.
—On May 8 a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was reported at First Creek at Green Valley Ranch (Dunkirk and 53rd). First reported May 6 by John Breitsch.
DOLORES COUNTY:
—On May 13 two Red-necked Phalaropes were reported at Glade Lake 20 miles NE of Cahone by Glenn Dunmire.
EL PASO COUNTY:
—On May 13 a Golden-winged Warbler was reported at Clear Spring Ranch by Alan Ketcham.
—On May 13 a Blue-winged Warbler was reported at Clear Spring Ranch. First reported May 10 by Tyler Stewart.
—On May 13 two Mississippi Kites were reported over Adams Open Space. A Mississippi Kite also was reported May 12 at Clear Spring Ranch by Steven Brown.
—On May 13 a Baltimore Oriole was reported at private birdfeeders near Cherokee Ridge Golf Course by Sharon Milito. Another was reported May 12 at a private residence on Saddle Blanket Lane north of Peyton by Leslie Hill.
—County note: Chico Basin Ranch is closed to the public, except to dues-paying members of the birding, hunting and fishing clubs. Posts about birds seen there are being omitted from this report at the ranch’s request.
FREMONT COUNTY:
—On May 13 a male Scarlet Tanager was reported on the Cañon City Riverwalk (Sell Lake to Raynolds Avenue). First reported May 9 by Mark Peterson.
—On May 12 a MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL was re-heard on Oak Creek Grade 6 miles south of Cañon City (continuation of 4th Street south of town, becoming 143 Road and Oak Creek Grade) (38.305, -105.255). First heard May 6 by Jerry DeBoer. Because of high interest in this bird, PLEASE refrain from playing birdsong recordings.
—On May 11 a BLACK VULTURE was reported high above the Arkansas Riverwalk Trail, Cañon City by SeEtta Moss.
—On May 12 a Blue-winged Warbler was reported on the Ca ñon City River Walk (Sell Lake to Raynolds Avenue) by several birders. First reported May 9 by Jerry DeBoer.
—On May 12 a Cape May Warbler was reported on the Cañon City Riverwalk (Sell Lake to Raynolds Avenue) by Brandon Percival.
—On May 9 a male Scarlet Tanager was reported and photographed at a feeder in Lincoln Park (private residence) by SeEtta Moss.
GUNNISON COUNTY:
—On May 10 a Common Redpoll was reported by Drew Kelly as he hiked in Raggeds Wilderness Area on Daisy Pass en route to Mineral Point, about 7 miles NW of Crested Butte.
HINSDALE COUNTY:
—On May 12 five Snow Geese were reported at Williams Creek Reservoir (27 miles NW of Pagosa Springs) by Dorothy George.
HUERFANO COUNTY:
—On May 13 a Red-headed Woodpecker was reported along CR 340 SW of Walsenburg by David Tønnessen.
JACKSON COUNTY:
—On May 9 an Arctic Tern was reported at Walden Reservoir by Steve Mlodinow.
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
—On May 13 a Broad-winged Hawk was reported at Bear Creek Lake Park by Anne Craig.
—On May 13 a Golden-winged Warbler was re-found at Tucker Gulch. First reported May 7 by Terrance Wells.
—On May 13 a Pine Warbler was reported at Tucker Gulch by Barbara Baring.
—On May 13 a Black-throated Gray Warbler was reported at Tucker Gulch by Bez Bezuidenhout.
—On May 13 a Prothonotary Warbler was re-found at Tucker Gulch. First reported May 9 by Michael Lester.
—On May 12 a Field Sparrow was reported at Clement Park/Johnson Reservoir by Scott Somershoe.
—On May 10 a Hooded Warbler was re-found at Tucker Gulch in Golden and seen by many. First reported May 9 by Bill Eley.
—On May 8 a Black-throated Blue Warbler was re-found at Tucker Gulch, First reported May 2 by Michael Lester.
—On May 7 a Magnolia Warbler was reported at Tucker Gulch by Timo Mitzen.
NOTE: Red Rocks Park is closed indefinitely because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
KIOWA COUNTY:
—On May 10 a Hooded Warbler was reported at Upper Queens (Neeskah) Reservoir by David Dowell.
—On May 9 a Black-throated Blue Warbler was reported at Upper Queens (Neeskah) Reservoir, west end of CR C. First reported May 7 by Brandon Percival.
—On May 9 a Worm-eating Warbler was re-found at Upper Queens (Neeskah) Reservoir by numerous birders. First reported by Brandon Percival.
LARIMER COUNTY:
—On May 13 a Blue Grosbeak was reported on Big Thompson River Trail west of Loveland by Denise Bretting.
—On May 12 a Common Tern was reported at Prospect Ponds NA by Josh Bruening.
—On May 12 ten Glossy Ibis were reported at Running Deer & Cottonwood Hollow NAs by Ken Duncan, who first reported them May 11.
—On May 11 a Baltimore Oriole was reported at Reservoir Ridge NA by Rob Sparks.
—On May 11 a Magnolia Warbler was reported at Boyd Lake by Nick Komar. Another Magnolia Warbler was reported May 10 at Seven Lakes Park, Loveland.
—On May 10 a Winter Wren was reported at Sheldon Lake in City Park, Fort Collins by E.J. Raynor. Location: vegetation tangle in dry ditch at southwest corner.
—On May 10 a Hooded Warbler was re-found on CR5 between Rd 82 and Rd 92. First reported May 9 by Nick Komar and Caleb Alons.
—On May 10 a Summer Tanager was reported in the northwest corner of the Environmental Learning Center, Fort Collins. First reported May 9 by Rob Sparks.
—On May 9 a Field Sparrow was reported at Mariana Buttes NA, Loveland by Christine Sparks.
—On May 9 a Bay-breasted Warbler was re-found at Morey Wildlife Reserve, Loveland, near bridge off Cedar Valley Road. First reported May 5 by Nick Komar.
—On May 8 a Prothonotary Warbler was reported at Prospect Ponds NA . First reported May 5 by Joshua Keller.
—On May 7 a Field Sparrow was reported at Greyrock Commons in NW Fort Collins by Doug Schwarz.
LAS ANIMAS COUNTY:
—On May 13 a Grace’s
Warbler was reported on CR 47.7, Trinidad by David Tønnessen.
—On May 10 a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and a Vermilion Flycatcher were reported
on Colorado 109 about 20 miles south of La Junta by by David Tønnessen and Will
Anderson.
—On May 7 a Trumpeter Swan was reported at Piñon Lake Reservoir by John Vanderpoel.
MESA COUNTY:
—On May 13 two LUCY’S WARBLERS were re-found at Gateway Cottonwoods west of Gateway along the Dolores River. First reported April 26 by Kathleen McGinley. Because these birds are nest-building, PLEASE refrain from playing birdsong recordings.
—On May 12 a Red Phalarope was reported at Connected Lakes SP/Blue Heron section, Grand Junction by Mike Henwood.
—On May 11 a Least Tern was reported on the Colorado River Trail in Grand Junction by Denise and Mark Vollmar.
—On May 9 a Magnolia Warbler was reported at Horsethief Canyon SWA near the kiosk by Carol Ortenzio.
MONTEZUMA COUNTY:
—On May 9 a Common Tern was reported at McPhee Reservoir west end by Glen Dunmire.
OTERO COUNTY:
—On May 11 a Painted Bunting, a Vermilion Flycatcher and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher were reported on Higbee Valley Road (Otero CR 804) by Christine Alexander, Renee Casias and Ben Sampson.
—On May 10 a Baltimore Oriole was reported on Higbee Valley Road (Otero CR 804) south of La Junta By David Tønnessen and Will Anderson.
—On May 7 a Vermilion Flycatcher, a Blue-winged Warbler and a Summer Tanager were reported along Higbee Valley Road south of La Junta by the Phenegers.
OURAY COUNTY:
—On May 12 six Grace’s Warblers were reported on Sims Mesa Trail 15 by Steve Dike, Jon Horn and Bill Harris.
PARK COUNTY:
—On May 10 a Ruby-throated Hummingbird was reported at a private feeder in Pueblo by Chuck Telotte. See eBird report.
PITKIN COUNTY:
—On May 11, a Black-throated Gray Warbler was reported at Wheatley Open Space by John Anderson.
PROWERS COUNTY:
—On May 11 a Kentucky Warbler was reported in a farm yard south of Lamar by Jane Stulp.
—On May 10 a Cape May Warbler was reported in Willow Creek Park, Lamar by Brandon Percival.
—On May 10 a Pine Warbler was reported at Fairmount Cemetery, Lamar by Brandon Percival.
—On May 10 a Mourning Warbler was reported in the Lamar Community College Woods by Brandon Percival and others. One was also reported in a farm yard south of Lamar by Jane Stulp.
—On May 10 a Gray-cheeked Thrush was reported in a farm yard south of Lamar by Jane Stulp. On May 9, one was reported at Lamar Community College.
PUEBLO COUNTY:
—On May 13 a Hooded Warbler was reported at Runyon Lake, Pueblo by Evan Carlson.
—On May 13 a Yellow-throated warbler was re-found at Roselawn Cemetery, Pueblo by Evan Carlson, who first reported it on May 7.
—On May 10 a Ruby-throated Hummingbird was reported at a private feeder in Pueblo by Alanna Fenlon. See eBird report.
—On May 7 a Black-throated Blue Warbler was reported below Pueblo Reservoir dam by Chris Knight. Location: Rock Creek area, north side of Arkansas River.
—County note: Chico Basin Ranch is closed to the public, except to dues-paying members of the birding, hunting and fishing clubs. Posts about birds seen there are being omitted from this report at the ranch’s request.
RIO GRANDE COUNTY:
—On May 7 a Scarlet Tanager was reported at Home Lake SWA by John Rawinski.
ROUTT COUNTY:
—On May 9 a Canyon Towhee was reported and photographed at the Yampa River Preserve by Noah Brinkman. This pioneering find is one of the northernmost records of the species in CO.
—On May 9 a Nashville Warbler was reported at Yampa River Preserve by Noah Brinkman.
SAGUACHE COUNTY:
—On May 13 a Hooded
Warbler was reported on the Lower Spanish Creek Trail, Crestone by Bayard and John
Cobb.
SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:
—On May 9 a LUCY’S WARBLER was reported at Gypsum Valley (Dolores River boat
launch to bridge) by Eric Hynes.
TELLER COUNTY:
—On May 9 a Gray Vireo was reported (among many Plumbeous Vireos) on the Shelf Road 4WD route by Scott Schaum.
—On May 9 a Canyon Towhee was reported on Shelf Road at Keyhole Rock by Scott Schaum.
WASHINGTON COUNTY:
—On May 9, 15 Common
Terns were reported at Prewitt Reservoir by Norm Lewis.
WELD COUNTY:
—On May 12 two Stilt Sandpipers were found in a shallow wetland at Weld County Roads 16 and 51 between Hudson and Keenesburg by Paul and Evi Opler.
—On May 10 a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was reported and photographed in Frederick near Frederick Skate Park (still under construction) by Kristen Davis. Location: between CR11 and CR13 north of Godding Hollow (40.118, -104.954).
—On May 10 three Short-billed Dowitchers were reported at Weld CR59 wetlands by Jack Bushong.
—On May 10 a Magnolia Warbler was reported at Poudre Ponds by Ryan and Jack Bushong.
—On May 10 two Caspian Terns were reported at Poudre Ponds by Ryan and Jack Bushong. Two continuing Caspian Terns also were reported May 8 at Pelican Lakes by Ryan Graves.
—County note: Crow Valley Campground is closed to all human activity (per USFS district office).
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PLEASE NOTE: Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Denver Field Ornithologists and other CO birding clubs have suspended all field trips scheduled for May and June, including the annual Colorado Field Ornithologists convention in Pueblo (reset for May 2021).
Please share interesting and/or unusual birds and behavior observations on COBirds.
Good birding,
Patrick O’Driscoll
Denver, CO
patodrisk AT gmail.com